Drizzly Days Acclaimed as ‘Perfect Rain’

TUJUNGA —  While heavy rains have caused havoc throughout most of the Pacific Northwest and several northern California counties, a series of drizzly days in the Los Angeles area seems to be winding down without significant damage, according to authorities.

“It’s been a perfect rain,” said Donna Guyovich, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, which controls the county’s 15 flood-control dams, including Big Tujunga Dam. “It hasn’t been intense.”

The mostly gentle drizzle has fallen slowly enough to allow it time to soak into the ground, she said, adding that the agency has released at leisure some water from its dams. The water on city streets has also drained properly, causing no flooding, she said.

As of late Thursday, authorities had not reported any fatalities or serious accidents caused by the rains.

“We’ve had various accidents, but that’s normal,” said. Lt. Brad Kubela, of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division, adding that fender-benders had increased by an uncounted amount, but that is the norm for rainy days.

By early evening, various communities in the Los Angeles area had received less than half of an inch of moisture, said Jon Erdman, a meteorologist with WeatherData Inc., which provides weather information to The Times.

In the San Fernando Valley, Woodland Hills received .37 inches, Northridge .46 inches, Van Nuys .24 inches and Burbank .19 inches, Erdman said. The Civic Center registered only .16 inches.

Diminishing clouds should linger throughout Southern California today with a small chance of showers, Erdman said. The day’s high temperatures should be in the low to mid 60s, with lows in the low 50s.

On Saturday, however, the area will probably again see increased cloudiness with a chance of showers in the late evening, Erdman said. But the clouds should begin to clear up again Sunday.

“It looks like we should see some clearing skies by Sunday afternoon as the clouds and rain from the Pacific storms move out of the area,” Erdman said.